More than 14,000 Sailors, Marines, Airmen and reservists
will participate in two major exercises taking place off the southern California coast
during November. The Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), taking place November 12-22, and
Fleet Exercise (FLEETEX) will provide progressive and realistic pre-deployment training
for a carrier battle group, an amphibious ready group, Marine Expeditionary Unit and other
deploying units. The exercise will involve over 20 ships and various types of aircraft and
helicopters from the USS JOHN C STENNIS carrier battle group and USS BONHOMME RICHARD
amphibious ready group with 2,200 Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special
Operations Capable) embarked. This exercise is a final graduation evaluation for the
STENNIS battle group's readiness prior to their deployment on January 7, 2000.

"Our mission in 3rd Fleet is to ensure our carrier
battle groups and amphibious ready groups receive the world's best training in order to
deploy to the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Gulf," said Vice Adm.
Dennis McGinn, Commander, 3rd Fleet and officer in command of the exercise. "We also
conduct training with the other services to ensure joint interoperability and combat
readiness," he explained.

Naval operations will include Maritime Interception
Operations, Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations, various air strike and support missions,
operational testing of various weapons systems, Theater Ballistic Missile Defense,
logistics support, search and rescue and command and control. U.S. Navy and Marine Corps
forces will be joined in the exercise by U.S. Air Force aircraft as well as units from
Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

The name Joint Task Force Exercise reflects the increasing
focus on preparing naval forces to participate fully in joint operations with other U.S.
Forces. During the past several years, this exercise has placed increasing emphasis on
incorporating joint terminology, procedures, planning, and command and control structures
into battle group training. Participation by units from other branches of the U.S. armed
forces is actively sought and incorporated into the exercise whenever possible.

Over the past year the surface forces of both coasts and
Navy leadership have worked hard to critically examine life in the surface Navy to find a
better way to prepare our ships and crews for combat. The time spent preparing and
training for deployments, known at the Inter-Deployment Training Cycle, has been shortened
from 26 weeks to about 16 weeks of tailored training. Working smarter, not harder is the
goal of the IDTC realignment. Some initiatives include: wireless communications
installations, continuous maintenance, habitability improvements, and energy conservation
programs, PMS program reductions, sea/shore rotation restructuring, duty section
requirements and the Fleet Review Board. These changes span the Navy and have
significantly improved the way the service prepares for its warfighting mission in the
21st century.

Major U.S. Navy staffs and units participating in JTFEX and
FLEETEX include: